I proposed to my fiancée here. Enough said. Bathrooms were less desirable. If that's what you're…read morelooking for.

Beautiful place to visit, quite picturesque. Wear appropriate shoes when going. Parking available.read more

An amazing nature trail. Some of the oldest trees in Indiana grow in this thicket! It is very…read morepeaceful and quiet.

We love hiking here. We bring our dog and she even loves it. The trees are beautiful! Can't wait…read morefor all of the paw paw trees to mature, so we can finally see what they look like when the fruit starts to grow.

We was planning to go to the middle creek park, but GPS lead us to this park. Strange! There is one…read moretrail beside the parking lot. It's a loop and quite nice walk. The first half is mostly uphill, will be a little exhausting, but the 2nd half is much easier. There is an overlook area, but not much view.

I went looking for this site, and almost turned back when I saw a sign stating the road was Posted…read moreNo Trespassing. I stopped to ask a nearby homeowner, who promised the trailhead was just beyond the outdated sign. It was, all official with signage and a parking area. It's a nice trail, clearly marked and with several benches along the way. It's a loop of about a mile and a half, which ends by the creek. There's no real vista while the leaves are still on the trees, perhaps in winter? Maybe I'll make it back to find out!

I was a little bit nervous about signing up to do a 3k event in November, however, the opportunity…read morepresented itself and I knew I'd be able to visit a park I'd never been to before. Flat Fork Creek Park is part of Fishers Parks. Located at 101st and Cyntheanne Road, Flat Fork Creek Park offers just over 60 acres of relaxing fun for just about everyone in the family including a good amount of ADA accessibility. First off, you'll get a 60-foot sledding hill here. That's good to know as we inch toward winter. It's the tallest point in Hamilton County. There's also a 1.25 mile progressive mountain bike course that offers features for both mountain biking newbies and those with more experience. There's a beautiful fishing pond - state license required except for those 17 and under. Nearly 20 acres in the park are reforestation areas and there's a shelter with picnic tables that can be rented. Okay, that accessibility I mentioned? The 3k I did was a relatively small group, though it was centered around disability and had several disabled participants. The park includes an ADA accessible treehouse, a paved multi-use trail, and a boardwalk (I would note that while the boardwalk is, indeed, accessible, you do want to be a tad careful due to the side of the boardwalk that do offer a bit of a drop-off). You know what I think is really cool? They've created a ramp here so that even those with mobility issues can get to the top of the sledding hill - in most parks, that's an afterthought. As a side note, Fishers has won awards for their inclusion work and this park really shows it. This is really just a lovely park. You're not going to find a playground or other frequent park features, however, this beautiful park does a nice job of including everyone and weaving together nature with fun park adventures. This was my first time here. It won't be my last.

I recently discovered this park and have gone back a few times now. It's a beautiful park with a…read moregreat walking path, trail and hill. I love taking my dog here for a walk or going alone just to watch the sun set. The park is spacious and clean and overall a great experience. If it were closer to me I'd probably go daily.

Cordry Sweetwater Lakes are private . Sweetwater lake has a beach that you have to have a beach…read morepass and be a property owner within the district to use the beach .

High quality ingredients and delicious! My mom used to make me delicious fried egg sandwiches when…read moreI was a child. Cordry makes an even better one!

This is a nice little park in Batesville. The trails are short and easy to hike. They had a paved…read moreloop as well as some gravel trails through the woods. Two of the trails were closed, maybe due to the rain? There is a map right next to the parking lot, plenty of benches to enjoy the view or rest.

I decided to take a break from driving and stopped by Brum Woods in Batesville. There is a lot to…read morelove about this place: Whether its the contact with nature you get walking through this former farmland turned woods, or you like the beautifully maintained trails, or appreciate the total accessibility of Trail #1 with its wide paved path with practically no elevation change, this park is great! There is a small parking lot for guests on the east side of the park. From there you can check out the information board at the trailhead that lets you know how long each of the loops are. (They even tell the distance for the connection loops!) The park is divided by a road, so Trail #1 (Lena's Loop) is fully paved and wide enough for a vehicle to drive on, but of course, those are prohibited. The loop is 0.6 miles long and goes through the maturing forest and then opens up to a small prairie area on the west end by the division road. Along the way, you can read the story of Lena Brum who lived on the land and was quite a character who insisted the land not be developed when she left it to the city. Across the division road are three more trails (not sure why there isn't a Trail #3). Those trails are a bit longer, but are unpaved. For the sake of preservation, no hikers or bikers are allowed on these trails when they are wet, so you have to watch the sign at that trailhead to see if the trails are open or closed. Sadly for me, they were closed on my visit, so I can't give you much information about their condition / attributes. It would be nice if they let you know at the first trailhead that the other trails were closed before hiking over to the second. Since it was early spring, the trees weren't in their full foliage, so the views weren't as beautiful as I would have hoped, but the next time I am in the area, I will hope it is dry and that I can make a return visit to this park. Review #2454

An incredible treasure tucked away in beautiful Madison, Indiana! The scenery alone makes it worth…read morethe trip--the rolling hills, peaceful woods, and well-kept paths make you feel like you've discovered a little slice of nature's magic. The hikes are very approachable, even for families with young kids. The trails are well-marked, not overly strenuous, and give you just the right mix of exercise and relaxation. My kids loved exploring the paths, spotting wildlife, and getting the chance to just run and play in a safe outdoor space. It's a wonderful way to introduce children to hiking without overwhelming them. For families, this place is ideal. The trails are wide enough in many areas for strollers, and there are plenty of spots to pause, take in the view, or enjoy a quick snack break together. It's the kind of place where you can spend an hour or the whole afternoon and leave feeling refreshed and reconnected. What I really love is how accessible and welcoming it feels--perfect for both locals and visitors to Madison. Whether you're looking for a short nature walk, a family outing, or a peaceful hike to clear your head, these trails are a gem. Highly recommend to anyone visiting Madison, Indiana--this spot is a true treasure for families, nature lovers, and anyone who just needs a little dose of outdoor beauty.

Beautiful state park with plenty of trails, parking and sights to see! Parks, picnic tables, and…read moreaffordable to get in, especially if you're a resident.

Great amount of activities and different trails and great area to bring the kids. Wish they would…read moreopen the obstacle course

Great customer service...we called this morn for directions (because our navigation was having…read moretrouble finding the location) and Gwen answered and gave us SPECIFIC directions...we found it easily..when we pulled into space 55 we realised we were in an old parking lot..all cement..not happy..BUT..at that moment (Mike the Camp Host) drove by on his golf cart and I told him we weren't really happy with the setting..he took Bryan (my partner) in his cart to look at three other sites ..Bryan picked #21..we were PLEASED...Mike was quite accommodating..then we went to check out the rest rooms...clean ..very nice..well lit..I do like paper toweling and there wasn't any but that was ok..we're leaving early in the morn and sorry we can't get to the museum..the general facility looks quite interesting

When the Selmier family owned the property, Frank Selmier began planting pine, black locust, black…read morewalnut, sycamore, and tulip trees on the land. From 1921 to 1934, he worked on the property and most of the property was placed on Indiana's Classified Forest Program between 1927-1931. After Frank's death, his wife donated the property to the State. This 355 acre property is located just a short distance from US 50 to the northeast side of North Vernon. The park is only accessible form CR 350 N and has the Forest Office/Property Manager's station on the east end of the park. However, if you don't wish to stop by and pick up a brochure, you can take the self-guided trail which starts (and has its own small parking lot) on the west end of the park. That's what I decided to take. The self-guided trail is fairly easy to navigate with wide gravel based roads making up most of the trail. Elevation changes are easy with the exception of one area where steps have been built into the hillside. The trail is roughly 1 mile in length and there are benches for resting or stopping to enjoy the sights and sounds of the park. There are small creeks/runoffs along the way with one spot where a small pond tends to grow after rain fall as it waits to filter through a pipe under the trail to lower ground. For those who like longer hikes, there are additional trails in the park, but none of them are very long. Be advised that hunting is allowed in the park during the season, but hunters should check in at the Forest Office to make sure of any additional restrictions. The brochures list the major items of concern for hunting as well as having maps of the trails. Nothing spectacular to catch your attention as far as terrain, but the forest looks to be in great health and the wide paths make the park more accessible (though not completely) than most. Review #2632

Some parks are beautiful…read more Versailles State Park reminded me why it's worth slowing down. From the moment we arrived, there was something new to discover. The historic covered bridge feels enormous when you're standing beneath it, and stepping into the shade inside was an instant relief from the warm day outside. The weathered wood, years of wear, and little imperfections only added to its character. The waterfall became its own soundtrack for the afternoon. Between the rushing water and the constant chorus of birds, the park somehow felt full of life while remaining incredibly peaceful. A fisherman had found a quiet spot along the river, another visitor was reading beneath the trees, and everyone seemed to be enjoying the park at their own pace. One of my favorite memories came before we even started hiking. While we were sitting in the car looking over the trail map, a smiling gentleman waved from his pickup and asked, "Do you enjoy nature?" Of course we said yes. Grinning from ear to ear, he led us to a tiny opening in the trees and pointed toward the shoreline where a Great Blue Heron was quietly hiding. It's such a simple interaction, but it perfectly captured what I love about state parks. People aren't just there to enjoy nature--they're excited to help others experience it too. Later, while watching a butterfly drift along the trail, I happened to glance down at just the right moment and spotted the tiniest little frog sitting beside the path. He was still there on our hike back, and I couldn't help but smile knowing other hikers would probably get the same surprise. By the time we left, I felt completely recharged. Versailles State Park isn't a place to rush through. It's a place to wander, look up at the towering canopy, look down at the little things you'd normally miss, and let nature slow you down for a while.

Versailles State Park is a little over an hour Southeast of Indy and qualifies as Indiana's second…read morelargest state park. As I get to a new place in my current cancer journey, I'm finding that I am spending a lot of time in nature and doing bucket list items (No, I'm not dying). I've always wanted to visit Indiana's state parks and have been taking the time to start doing so. Despite its size, Versailles State Park is definitely lesser utilized than number one (Brown County). It does have the expected rolling hills of Southeastern Indiana and it has a 220-acre lake. You can rent rowboats, canoes, or kayaks. Versailles has over 20 miles of horse trails along with mountain bike and hiking trails. Located in Ripley County, the park was established in 1943. This area has a lot of historical significance including with the Civil War and the Civilian Conservation Corps. If you know the story of Morgan's Raiders, they actually made their way through this area during the Civil War. Versailles was also briefly under Confederate control. Versailles has a CCC Commemorative statue you can check out. There's quite a bit of camping within the state park. There are 238 camping sites with the majority offering electric. Versailles State Park offers a dam that's cool to visit along with a nature center. There are easy, moderate, and difficult hiking trails - as a wheelchair user, I was rather underwhelmed with accessibility options. However, I was still able to enjoy the park quite a bit. Fishing is available here along with bird watching and a variety of other activities. Versailles is fairly secluded. You're about a mile away from the nearest restaurant but you do have a variety of options within ten miles (including a motel for those who'd rather not rough it). The website has the full list of camping rates. The website also has all admission prices (there are daily and seasonal rates along with discounts for those on disability and veterans). Annual passes are for the most part good at any DNR property that charges a gate fee, though before leaving I tend to check websites just to make sure as there are some special exhibits and such that do charge a separate fee - that said, it's fairly rare. I would note that in-state fee is a bit lower than out-of-state fee (they judge by the license plate). I enjoyed my time here and could easily see some camping options. I loved the lake and did get some time on the easier trails. As I noted, accessibility options are a bit limited but DNR has overall massively improved accessibility statewide in parks. I could easily see making this a weekend trip with a stop in nearby Versailles for antiquing, nature, and history.